Fire Safety & Risk Management, BSc (Hons)

Program Overview

The Fire Safety & Risk Management program at UCLan equips individuals with the knowledge and skills to mitigate fire risks through integrated design and management solutions. The program emphasizes legal compliance, fire safety systems, and risk assessment, preparing graduates for roles in specialist fire safety companies, including project management, fire safety engineering, and fire investigation.

Program Outline

Fire Safety & Risk Management, BSc (Hons) - UCLan

Degree Overview:

This program is designed for individuals aiming for senior roles in specialist fire safety companies. It focuses on developing knowledge of design and management solutions that reduce fire risk. The degree is specifically tailored to address reforms in fire safety law, emphasizing the consideration of fire risk during the design, construction, and occupation of buildings.

Objectives:

• Develop knowledge of integrated design and management solutions to reduce fire risk.
• Understand how to ensure appropriate active, passive, and fire safety management systems are in place to protect people, property, and the environment in case of a fire.

Outline:

Year 1:

Compulsory Modules:

• Introduction to Combustion and Fire: This module introduces the fundamentals of combustion and fire, covering topics like combustion, fire, and explosion phenomena.
• Safety and Fire Law: This module provides an overview of the legal system in the UK, focusing on the employment relationship, leadership, management, and team working skills.
• Engineering Design Practice: This module introduces simple design principles, developing a scientific and analytical approach to solving environmental/safety control problems in the built environment.
• Skills for Science and Engineering: This module develops mathematical, analytical, IT, communication, and research skills essential for progression through the course.

Year 2:

Compulsory Modules:

• Fluid Dynamics of Fires: This module builds upon the theory and practical themes introduced in Year 1, focusing on fluid flow and its application to flames, fires, and explosions.
• Fire Safety Management and Legislation: This module emphasizes the importance of fire safety systems, means of escape, and the implementation of fire safety management systems.
It also explores the legal aspects of fire safety.
• Accidents and Catastrophes: This module develops awareness of accident and catastrophe phenomena and their impact on society.
It explores different types of technological accidents and catastrophes in the built world, including case studies of fires and their impact on buildings.
• Safety, Health and Environment: This module covers key areas of health and safety in the workplace, enabling students to identify and control hazards.
• Project Management: This module focuses on the role and responsibilities of the project manager, including leadership, organization, analytical, monitoring, and controlling techniques.

Optional Modules:

• Fire and the Built Environment: This module explores the impact of fires on the built environment, including building construction methods, materials, smoke movement and control, law regulations, and standards.
It also examines different types of fire behavior with case studies of fires and their impact on buildings.
• Fire Risk Assessment in Complex Residential Buildings: This module equips students with the skills to identify fire risks in complex residential properties and address potential issues.
• Fire Risk Assessment in Complex Non-residential Buildings: This module develops the skills and knowledge required for carrying out fire safety risk assessments in non-residential commercial buildings, such as places of public assembly.
It explores relationships, solutions, and models used in the design of buildings for fire safety and investigations.
• Fire Protection Engineering: This module develops skills in numerical analyses and evaluates different fire protection applications.
• Fire Investigation: This module equips students with the ability to investigate fires to meet the needs of officials.
It covers recognizing fire scenes, patterns, indicators, and dynamics of fire development, as well as understanding the motives and characteristics of fire setters.
• Strategic Risk Decision Making: This module covers emergency planning, disaster management, and response to natural and man-made disasters.
It examines recent case studies of fires, flooding, and explosions, exploring their causes, consequences, and response.
• Hazards and Risk Management: This module focuses on understanding, applying, and critically evaluating techniques of hazard and risk management, enabling students to produce and defend professional quality reports on real risk management policy.
• Engineering Dissertation: This module involves an independent study of theoretical, computational, experimental, or investigative analysis, or a combination.
It enhances research, communication, and evaluation skills.

Assessment:

The program utilizes a variety of assessment methods, including:

• Examinations
• Coursework (group projects, modeling exercises, time-controlled assignments, short answer questions, essays, practical reports or tests, problem-solving exercises, critical reviews, presentations)

Teaching:

• Taught by research-active staff from the fields of fire safety engineering and fire chemistry, as well as fire professionals.
• Includes guest lectures from industry partners, CPD events, projects, and funding prizes.
• Utilizes state-of-the-art facilities in the Engineering Innovation Centre, enabling students to work on real-world projects with commercial partners.

Careers:

Graduates of this program have secured successful careers with companies such as:

• BuroHappold Engineering
• WSP
• Horea Lea
• London Fire Brigade
Many graduates have also continued their studies on the MSc Fire Safety Engineering and MSc Fire Scene Investigation programs. Some students have gained promotions due to successful completion of this degree program.

Other:

• The program offers the opportunity to participate in international exchange visits with partners in the Middle East and Hong Kong.
• The program is accredited by the Energy Institute (EI) on behalf of the Engineering Council.
• The program is based in the School of Engineering and Computing.
• The program has an Industrial Liaising Committee involving leading companies in fire safety engineering, fire risk management, fire safety management, fire risk assessment, and Fire and Rescue Services.

UK

Full-time £9,250 per year Sandwich year £1,500 for the sandwich year

International

Full-time £16,500 per year